Not only did our community lose a legend this past week, but females everywhere, from infants to adults, will forever owe a few of their freedoms to Betty Faith Jaynes.

Betty Jaynes started playing basketball when women played half-court ball, not being allowed to run the full court, and helped oversee one of the most dramatic turnarounds in sports history.

Women’s sports were a secondary thought for most schools, especially at the college level, when Betty started her career. She never met an obstacle she could not overcome and would never accept no as a word of action.

Jaynes was an excellent coach and molder of students. Her efforts helped to create the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, which today boasts 3,000 members.

Jaynes never forgot her home roots, and just last year was honored at a banquet in her beloved hometown of Porterdale.

We will miss Betty Jaynes; the sports world will miss her as well.

We will miss her not only because of all she accomplished, but also because of the outstanding character that she possessed, the character that allowed her to open doors that had "NO," written in big letters, on them.